Adjustable crossing and switch for overhead conductors



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. J. VAN DEPOELE. ADJUSTABLE cnossme AND SWITCH FOR OVERHEAD GONDUUTORS.

No 396,313. Patented Jan. 15,1889.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

0. J. VANDEPOELE. ADJUSTABLE CROSSING AND SWITCH FOR OVERHEAD GONDUUTORS.

No. 396,313. Patented Jan. 15, 1889.

Charles .I TanDepoeZe,

N: PETERS, Paola Ll\hugrn hl:r. Washington. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF LYNN, BIIASSACHUSETTS.

ADlUSTABLE CROSSING AND SWITCH FOR OVERHEAD CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,813, dated January 15, 1889.

I Application filed November 14, 1888. Serial No. 290,832. (No model.)

To aZZ whmn it 17mg concern.-

Be it known that l, CHARLESJ. VAN DE POELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Crossings and Switches for Overhead Conductors, of which the following is a description.

The present invention relates to improve ments in switches for suspended electric conductors, and comprises crossings and switches adapted to be incorporated in and form part of a suspended electric-railway-conductor system, and at the same time to be adjustable to meet the various requirements or changes of requirements, so that one or two forms will be capable of being adapted to almost any position. The switches in question are-more particularly designed for use in connection with a contact wheel or device supported and pressed upwardly from below, and the present application includes, with other details, the form of switch shown in Figures 10 and 11 of my application, Serial No. 2%,l17, filed August 22, 1888, but not specifically claimed therein.

The details of construction, arrangement, and operation will be hereinafter pointed out, and referred to in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of an adj st-able crossing, different positions thereof being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the crossing shown in Fig. 1,the component parts thereof being separated to better show the construction. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts of the crossing seen in partially sectional end view in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of an adjustable switch. Fig. 4c is an inverted plan view showing the members of the switch in Fig. 3 separated. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the switch shown in Fig. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of aslightly-different form of adjustable switch. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the switch shown in Fig. 6. Fig. Sis an inverted plan view of the switch shown in Fig. 6, the partshaving been separated. Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the adjustable members of the switch.

Similar letters denote like parts throughout.

As indicated in the drawings, Figs. 1, 2, and 2, an adjustable crossing according to my present invention comprises an arch or bridge, A, to the extremities a a of which are secured the ends B B of the main conductor 0, the arch Aserving to bridge and so unite the separate ends of the main conductor.

The intersecting conductor is united and connected by a part, D, similar to the part A, in that it is provided with end portions, to which terminals (1 d of the intersecting conductor Ear-e secured. The end portions of the part D are united by a flat metallic plate or surface, F, adapted to fit under and to rest against the under side of the central or bridg ing portion of the part A.

The part D and the part A (hereinafter re ferred to as members) are'pivotally connectedas, for example, by a screw-bolt, f, which passes down through an enlarged central portion of the member A and into the center of the plate or surface F of the member D. The end portions, 6, of the member D being separated and united by the plate F, there is ample room for the central portion of the member A to fit down between them, the members A and D being then adj ustablyconnected by the bolt-f. By loosening the boltf the membersAand D can be turned into any desired relative positions, some of which are 1 indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The extremities of both conductors are separated a sufficieut distance to allow the trolley-wheel in leaving one conductor to pass across the under side of the plate F without danger of catching or striking, and the said conductorterminals are arranged in parallel horizontal planes at such distances from the under side of the plate F that on leaving the conductor to pass across said plate to the opposite terminalsthc flanges of the trolley will roll smoothly along the under side of said plate without in akin an y perceptible jump upward or downward in passing to the conductor and plate, and vice versa.

As shown and described in my said other application, the plate F is provided with a central projection, G, adapted to engage the groove inthe trolley when passing across the plate, thereby preventing lateral displacement.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 is seen an adjustable switch composed, as there shown, of three members, parts, or arms, H I J. These several parts are each formed or provided with a central downwardly-extending rib, h i j, which do not extend quite to the pivotal extremity of II I J, but terminate at such a dis-. tance therefrom that when said arms are pivoted together, as shown in Fig. 3, a central surface will be formed, across which a said trolley-wheel can pass from the inner extremity of one rib to the extremity of the one to which it is to be directed.

Dependent flanges h i j downward from the edges of the arms H I J for a short distance outward from their pivotal points, so as to inclose and prevent lateral displacement of the contact-trolley when passing across the space between the inner extremity of one rib and that to which it is to be directed. The flanges h i'j' need not be very deep, nor need they be the entire length of the members of which the switch is composed, for it will be obvious that when the trolley-wheel is partly in engagement with the extremity of the rib onto which it is being switched its course onto the main conductor will not easily be interrupted. As seen in 3 and 5, the adjustablemembers composing the switch are centrally united by a pivot pin or bolt, K, and, as indicated, the inner ends of the several parts of the switch should be sunk or recessed, or so formed that, as indicated in said Fig. 5, they may be secured together by the pivot K and yet present a substantially smooth even under surface.

I have described the adjustable switch as consisting of three members, each provided with central ribs and side flanges, the flanges for the purpose of guiding the trolley-wheel across the surface between ends of each rib. It will be understood, however, that, as indicated in Fig. 7, the lower end of the pivot K may be formed into or provided with a downwardly-depending conical point, 7t", corresponding in position and effect with the point G, (shown in Figs. 2 and 2%) to engage the groove of the trolhey-wheel when passing across the central open space or surface of the switch to prevent lateral displacement of the said wheel.

\Vhere the members I J' of the switch are to be brought closer together than the standard for which the castings of the several parts are designed, they may, of course, need a little fitting-for example, trimming at the inner ends of the side flanges on the inner sides of the members I J; but that, of course, would be obvious.

In Figs. (.3, 7, and 8 a slightly-different form from the foregoing is shown, the principal difference consisting in the construction of the switch in two instead of three parts. As

there shown, a double ended member, L, is formed with a rib, M N, at each end, said ribs are extended being separated to form a central space sufficient to allow the passage of the trolley-wheel, as indicated in Fig. 8 and in dotted lines in Fig. 7. \Vith this form a single adjustable arm or member, 0, is provided, said arm being similar to either of the members II I J, and adapted to be pivotally connected, as by bolt K, with the central port-ion of the part L, from which it may extend in any desired direction or at any angle for convenience. The double member L is provided with. a continuous flange, I, along one side of its central portion, a shorter flange yet being provided along a part of the opposite side. The member 0 is provided with a flange, P, at one side and with a shorter flange, p, at its opposite side. The object of the short flange p is, of course, to permit free adjustment of said member.

The double-ended member L may be made somewhat curved at its end adjacent to the adjustable member 0; but by making it straight, as shown in the drawings, it can be used in a greater variety of positions.

In Fig. 9 is seen one of the members, or arms, 11, on an enlarged scale. The side flanges may be, of course, cut away to a greater or less extent to any of the desired positions of the other portions of the switch; but the form here shown is a substantial embodiment of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A crossing or switch for suspended elec tric conductors, comprising two or more adjustably-connected members adapted for attachment to the respective conductors, substantially as described.

2. A crossing or switch for suspended electric conductors, comprising two or more ad j ustably-connected members and electric conductors secured to the said members, substantially as described.

3. A crossing or switch for electric conduct ors, comprising acontact or surface, members connectedin adjustable relation thereto and extending from the surface, and ribs or extensions upon the members to which the conductors are attached, substantially as described.

t. An adj u stable switch for electric conductors, comprising two ,or more adjustablyconnected members, each adapted to receive and be attached. to a teri'ninal of the conductor, and each provided with a depending rib to guide the contact-wheel, and a pivot uniting the members, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE.

\Vitnesses:

J. \V. GIBBoNEY, \V. O. \VAKEFIELD. 

